dojR002018.xml

dojR002018.xml

born-digital

email

yes

no

2002-03-18

Monday, March 18, 2002 4:17 PM
Sept. 11th Fund Gay Exclusions

To whom it may concern,

Shame. How dare the administrators of the Sept. 11th fund decide who was
more patriotic on Sept. 11th. Being a gay American and a citizen of
Washington DC, I witnessed heroism from people of all races and ethnicities
- both heterosexual and homosexual. On Sept. 11th, these people were
working hand-in-hand; working to save lives and preserve the freedom we, as
Americans, have fought to achieve.

Gay Americans, like all others on Sept 11th, gave just as much, worked just
as hard to save lives - many gay Americans lost their lives working to save
others. And now, gay Americans are being told our patriotism is not worth
as much, and ranks less, as straight Americans.

If you could speak to today, would you be able to tell him that
his efforts are not as worthy as those of the straight passengers on that
plane that crashed in Pennsylvania. could be the reason that many of
us are still alive today; may be the reason you are alive today. And
You, truly believe, that gay Americans cared less and did not give as much
on Sept. 11th?

Shame on you and the other administrators that exclude gay partners, parents
and family members from the Sept. 11th Fund. I implore you to pick up the
phone and make a few phone calls. The of the
that crashed into the was gay. He had a mother, a father, and a
partner. Before you make any further decisions on how the Sept 11th funds
are distributed; call his mother and ask her about her son. Ask her if she
thinks he was a hero. Then call his partner, and ask him how much he loved
him. Then call his father and ask him how proud he was, and is, of his son.
Do you believe they think his actions on Sept. 11th are any less worthy
that the straight that sat to his left?

Shame on you for creating a hierarchy of American patriotism. I am deeply
saddened that the American government can so blatantly exclude an entire
group of people, a group that was to crucial to the saving of lives, from a
fund designed to help people rebuild their lives after such a terrible act
of terrorism.

Today, for the first time since Sept. 11th, I am ashamed of the American
government.

Sleep well,

Individual Comment

2002-03-18